Curbing and sidewalk dressing implement.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

P. F. OONNELLY.

GURBING AND SIDBWALK DRESSING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.31. 1904.

entor,

Attornegs UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CURBING AND SIDEWALK DRESSING IMPLEMENT.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed October 31, 1904. Serial No. 230,839.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK FRANCIS CON- NELLY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sioux Falls, in the county of Minnehaha and State ofSouth Dakota, have in vented a new and useful Curbing and Side walkDressing Implement, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to implements employed in the construction ofartificial-stone or cement sidewalks and curbing, and has for its objectto provide a simply-constructed and efficient implement of this classwhereby the upper surface of the curbing and the contiguous surface ofthe sidewalk may be smoothed and finished and the curb-defining channelformed simultaneously with the smoothing of the curbing-surface andwithout danger of cutting into the material or destroying the symmetryof the work.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capableof carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood thatthe invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes inthe shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may beresorted to without departing from the principle of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvedimplement viewed from below. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from above, ona reduced scale, of a section of curbing and the adjacent portion of thesidewalk with the improved implement applied.

The improved implement herein shown and described is designed for use inconnection with curbing and sidewalks formed of continuous artificialstone or cement, and in structures of this character the curbing isusually defined by a shallow channel formed in the surface of thematerial when in a plastic state. The oulines of the curbing are alsosmoothed and, molded and the outer corner rounded to prevent thetendency to chip or flake under the impact of vehicle-wheels or fromother causes.

The implement herein shown and described is designed for simultaneouslysmoothing and finishing the upper surface of the curbing, together withthe rounded outer corner of the same, and likewise form the channel fordefining the inner line of the curbing by one operation.

It has been necessary heretofore in performing this work to first formthe rounded corner of the curbing with an edging implement, then smooththe upper surface with a trowel or like implement, then measure from theouter line of the curb to denote the position of the defining-channel,then place a straight-edge along the line thus defined and form thechannel by a pointing-trowel or like implement drawn along thestraight-edge, then move the straight-edge away from the channel a shortdistance, care being taken to maintain it parallel therewith, and thenfinish the channel by drawing a jointer or like implement along thesame, and finally finish with a smoothing-trowel. This, it will be seen,is a tedious and laborious process and requires considerable skill toperform it and produce a uniform and satisfactory appearance. All ofthis work can be performed very quickly and efliciently with the onesingle implement herein shown, which consists of a plate 10, wide enoughto extend transversely of the curbing (indicated at 11) and extends fora distance over the contiguous surface of the sidewalk, (indicated at12,) the plate having a rib 13, spaced from the rear or sidewalk edge toform the defining-channel, (indicated at 14,) having parallel verticalsides, and with an inwardly-curving rib 15, corresponding to the outercurved corner 16 of the curbing.

A handle 17 is provided with which to operate the implement.

In operating the implement the curved edge 15 is disposed over the edge16, which has been roughly outlined with a suitable shaping-tool, anddrawn back and forth along the curb-line, the rib 13 forming a channel14 for itself along the line representing the inner edge of the curb orthe defining-line between the curb and the body 12 of the sidewalk. Asthe movement proceeds the rib 13 sinks deep enough to permit the wholeof the flat under surface of the implement to bear upon the curb and theadjacent portion of the sidewalk 12. When the rounded corner 16 of thecurb and the channel 14 have been fully outlined, the implement is drawnback and forth there over with the end, which for the time being is theforwardly-moving end, very slightly raised, this action producing asmoothing or polishing action on the upper surface of the curb. The rib13, having the side walls parallel and disposed at right angles to theplate 10, enables the plate to be slightly elevated at either endwithout releasing the rib from contact with the side walls of thechannel in which it operates, and thus acts as an effectual guardagainst lateral or swaying movement of the implement during thesmoothing action, thereby producing a uniform result not possible withimplements of this class as heretofore constructed. The slight elevationof the forward end of the implement, it is obvious, therefore, does notrelease the rib 13 from its channel or effect its action as an effectivestop to prevent lateral play of the implement. This is an importantfeature of the invention and adds materially to the value and efficiencyof the device.

The implement may be employed by any person of ordinary skill and withvery little practice.

The implement may be of any suitable material and of any required size.

It will be noted that the ends of the implement are at right angles toits longitudinal axis and may be employed as a straight-edge, againstwhich the channeling implement may be drawn in forming the transversechannels for defining the representations of divisions between thecurbing blocks and likewise for assisting in forming the transversedefiningchannels in the sidewalk portion 12.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- As a newarticle of manufacture, an implement for dressing the edges ofartificial-stone curbing and the contiguous surface of a side,

